Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-05-06
MARY BAKERS FAST.
Condition of the Young Woman who
Went lO5 Days without Food

| Condition OF the Young W oman VINO
Went lO5 Days without Food
A trip by rail TO Memo aud a ride OF
seven miles across the prairie brought
| The Globe Democrat correspondent to
the home of Miss Mary Baker. the
young lady whose unparalleled fast Of
/ l05 days has excited the wonder Of the
medical fraternity throughout the
country. 1t is substantial frame
structure. pleasantly situated. The
scribe was welcomed. and. after max
king known the purposes of his visit.
was ushered into the presence of the
celebrated faster
The young lady reclined on an inva-
lids chair and greeted the visitor pleas
antly. The invalid is an lS-year-old
brunette of comely features and taste
fully dressed. The caller was informed
that he was the first newspaper man
who had been permitted to see the
faster, the family being somewhat SEN
sltlve to newspaper reporters. Miss
Baker is OF German parentage, but
speaks both English and German very
fiuently Her weight, previous to the
fast. was 13S pounds. The young lady
talked freely, but did not venture an
opinion as to the cause OF the fast.
which has been such puzzle TO the
doctors Prior to the fast she was
strong and hearty. and worked out most
of the time, though she was offered
pleasant home with her parents.
"Is it true that your fast was prompt
ed by unrequited lovc?' querel the
scribe.
"No-sir-ee!' CALCULATED the patient,
with much emphasis. Il wouldn fast
day for the best man on earth, and as
for marrying, | have had plenty OF
chances. sir, and could have been "a
wife long ago, had | so willed it,"
Miss Baker impressed the reporter as
beng above the average in intelligence
and of very determined dispos ton.
DR.. Clayton, the family physician, told
the reporter that the girl enjoyed good
health prior to January, 1886. She has
always suffered from slight pain in
the left hypochondriac region, and has
always been light eater. frequently
finishing before others of the family
had fairly begun. Mss Baker was
treated for nervous troubles at Il fferent
times until October last, when she was
given one day vial of valerian, 10 be
taken in doses of fifteen drops. While
alone the patient took several doses at
once, and sank into sleep which last
ed five days and nights. On awaken
ing the patient was given a quantity of
water which was at once elected and
thereupon, for a period of one hundred
days, she could neither reta food nor
water on her stomach, and did not ex-
periencc sense of hunger. the smell
of food, even, being offensive to her
All the senses were very acute. She
could tell visitors to her room. af er
meal, just what they had eaten The
contact of food to the patients stom-
ach always caused spasm, BEG ming
at the cardiac end of the organ and ex-
tending through the whole body. Dur
ing the spasm the pain in the pat ent's
stomach increased. and was only re-
leved by the constant pressure Of
hands. When the wood-stove door
was opened the faster always complain
ed of gas, which she said nearly
smothered her.
Since the To-day period Miss Baker
has eaten small quantities of food and
suffered occasional relapscs. 1t is be-
lieved that she will recover. Emanci-
alton is not perceptible about the waist
and hips. Until two weeks ago she
sould not talk above whisper. AS no
doctor had given cause for the won
derful fast, which is considered the
most remarkable on record, Dr. Clay
ton was pressed to give his opinion.
81 believe" said the doctor, that
the trouble came from nervous pros
tration and the pressure of foreign
growth in the stomach.